10:10 made for more

Welcome Back!

Yesterday, we dug deep into John 10:10 (The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly). We looked at both the thief and the giver of life. Today we will focus on what the abundant life doesn't look like and what it does look like through the life of two women in the Bible.

As a child I wanted to be so much: Nurse, Actress, Singer, Fashion Designer, Defender and Redeemer of homeless people, Teacher, Wife, Mother, Rich, Important and well known, I wanted to be BIG.

As a teenager: Beautiful, Loved, Romanced, Desired, Cherished, Popular. People and Boys were my fuel.

As an adult: Possessions, Power, Fullfillment in relationship, Purpose.

However, in all these things there remained a void, an emptiness. And whether I accomplished one or accoplished none, one question echoed in each time: Is there more to life than this?

I grew up not in a Christian home per say. I did know who God was, and when I say I did know God, I mean I had an understanding of his existance but I didn't know God and knew nothing of him. Allow me to explain: It's like the earthquake that hit Haiti exactly a year from today. We knew of it, there was a head knowledge that we knew there was an earthquake, it was a tradegy, lives were lost, people were suffering. We knew that. Again, there was knowledge of it. Yet because we weren't there, we were unable to experience it. We have knowledge of it but because we weren't there our entire being knows nothing of it. Same goes with God. I knew God but there was no experiencing of God. There was no relationship, no evidence of an intimate walk with him.

In my teens I gave my life to Jesus. The emptiness of my soul was filled. Yet even in knowing God personally, in being a "Christian", a certain void remained- a lack of living you could say. Was there more to life for me? Was I created only to breath, blink, eat and sleep?
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A car is created to be driven.

A shirt is created to be worn.
A Pizza is created to be eaten.
A song is created to be heard.
A book is created to be read.
A life is created to be lived!

Each thing is created with a unique purpose.
Life has a purpose (to be enjoyed to the full, to the max, to overflow). Than there must be a Creator!

----> Psalm 139 (click HERE to read) is a beautiful description of Creator God and us His Creation!
> we are wonderfully made. YOU ARE WONDERFULLY MADE!!!
> We have a maker. YOU HAVE A MAKER WHO: loves you! has amazing plans for you. longs to reveal to you, your worth and value as His precious child.
> God took His time creating you
> He labored over your design and formed you uniquely out of divine love for you
> V16 says, "The days fashioned for me before there were none of them: God's plans include you and me! We were created with a purpose!

 ---->Isaiah 62:3 says, "For you shall be a crown of glory in the hand of your God, and a royal diadem in the hand of your Lord.
>When I think of royalty certain words come to mind: prestige, glory, worth, importance, purpose, meaning, position, divine calling.
>If we place our lives in the hand of God He will begin to shower the abundant blessings in our life!

 Let's take a closer look at two women, who were both given the opportunity to live an abundant life.

The remainder of this post we will be looking at the book of Esther, click HERE for it or open your Bible!  

Esther 1:1-2:4
> King was hosting a banquet and showing off all his great possessions, his greatness, power and wealth
> Fine linens, gold, silver, turquoise, marble and alabaster are among the valuables
> The king however wanted to display the most valued of all the his possessions: Queen Vashti
> *** The king was not a godly man, and this feast was a scare tactic that he was using to manupulate fear unto his guest. And might I add that He was drunk.
> Commenators disagree on their veiws of Queen Vashti's response to the King. But one thing we do read in the scripture: she was summoned but she did not go. (Matthew Henry & Warren Wiersbe are great commentators on Esther)
> A new queen needed to take her place

Esther 2:5-8
> Esther was a young jewish orphan being raised by her older cousin Mordecai
> She's taken to the the court of the king with other women
> The year beautification process consisted of being cleansed, washed, anointed with oils and

Esther 2:16-17
>Esther is chosen

 We now have two Queens to contrast and compare

***reminder, the King is not a godly man, or a spiritual leader BUT I want to bring our focus now to our perfect King: God.
>He desires to bring us out before the world and display us as his prized possession (remember we have been bought), to present us as His daughter, His princess, His Queen, His bride.
> He looks to us and says, "Though I created the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, the air that you breath, the rain that waters the crops you eat, though I have created this earth for your enjoyement You have been created in my image. I died for you and defeated death so that you can have the abundant life here and eternal life thereafter. You are the crown of my creation and I want to present you to the World.

 1. Queen Vashti had an opportunity to be displayed (in a proper setting) as the most precious being in King Xerxes' kingdom yet she refused to be displayed. She was robbed of the abundant life, her hopes were killed and her position destroyed.

>And so it is with us. God has created us for more. We have been created to live a life of purpose and meaning. Today, He desires to use your life to display and refect His glory, His salvation, His mercy, His grace and truth to a dying world.

2. Quen Esther is now chosen by the King, and though we do not read that King Xerxes summons her to display her beauty, God makes sure to display her for His.

As you continue to read the story and I highly encourage you too, we read about an evil man named Haman and his horrible plot to rob the jews of their possessions, to kill them and destroy their God. Mordecai is a wonderful picture of those godly leaders that God places in our lives to give us sound wisdom.  

Let's pick up in Esther 4:13-16

>I love how Mordecai reminds Esther, as if almost painting a picture of Queen Vashti, that if she chooses to not do this, God will send deliverance through another way.
>God doesn't lose when we disobey, we are the ones that lose.
>God desires to use our lives this specific time to accomplish a specific purpose to bring about the savation of one person or of many that He may be glorified!
>He longs to achieve His purposes through us, and not because He needs us but because He has chosen to use us.

That is the abundant life, a life with purpose.
I challenge you: Would you allow God to use you in the circle of people that you find yourself in, for such a time as this? Would you be a crown of glory in His hand? Allie Marie Smith writes in her book: The Heal Journey, "Just as you'll never discover your life's purpose apart frm God, you'll never experience an abundant life apart from Him, either.

 Queen Vashti was robbed of the abundant life because she placed the focus on herself.

 Queen Esther was able to experience the abundant life because she made God and others her focus.

The only thing we can take to heaven, is people.

 Matthew 20:28: just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

 The abundant life is a life of purpose, a life of service, a life of sacrafice, a life centered on God and others, not centered on ourselves. We have been made free from the thief and made for more!!!

 2 Timothy 2:20-22 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Ephesians 2:20 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

10:10 a thief and a giver

Hi Friends!

This week I will be blogging about John 10:10, my year verse. It will be a mixture of notes from a teaching I prepared for the girls at my youth group as well as what the Lord is speaking to me personally. Today I would like to take you in deeper to this verse: I introduce you to a theif and a giver...

•  NKJV (New King James Version): The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
• NLT (New Living Translation): The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
• NIV (New Internation Version):The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
• ESV (English Standard Version):The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
• AB (Amplified Bible): The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). 

Let's contrast and compare the thief and this person who has come to give us life.

1. Thief
A. Who is this thief?
>The original Greek word for thief is kleptes. The meaning is false teachers. Figuratively speaking in this passage, it is speaking to a local church where most of its members were possesing a mere outward profession yet being defiled by the world.
> We therefore, can conclude that this thief is the world and all its false imitation of life.
> 1 John 5:19 reminds us that Satan is the ruler of this world.

B. The thief will steal:
>Rob us of our joy, peace, contentment, innonce, purity, faith
>The thief will rob us of anything and everything that God intented for us to have.
>Blessings will be robbed if we follow the thieves

C. The thief will Kill:
>At times the world will kill us to the core if we allow it to
>the thief will asphyxiate any and all hope
>it will massacre the Word of God
>It will kill the image of God in our hearts, to the point where we may even question God, "Are you there?" // "God, do you even care about me?" // "God, are you listening?" // "God, do you even exist? Are you real?"
>The world will kill our self worth right before our very eyes
>The thief will kill anything and everything that is truth in our lives

D. The thief will destroy:
>Whether it be through addiction. (Drugs, alcohol, eating disorder, exercise, sports, cutting, video games, the internet, shopping, our phones!!!!) An addiction is the state of being enslaved to a habit ot practice. You feel you need this or you can not live.
>Destructon may come through depression.
>Or the thing that may destroy us could be bitterness of heart
>Unforgiveness will do it too.

This thief does not come except and only with one purpose in order to keep us bound, chained, restrained and imprisoned from the life we were meant to live.

Let's take a look now to the one that has come to give us life

2. Mystery Giver
A. John 10:7 tells us who he is: None other than our King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Savior, Redeemer, Friend and lover of our soul Jesus Christ!

B. He has come:
Bottom line, we are in need of a Savior. This world has nothing that can offer life. That is why Jesus had to come. Apart from Him we are only existing and not living. He offers life to everyone, to whosoever, to those who are down, to those who are depressed even to those who have all their ducks lined up in a row. There is no error in history, Jesus came, e died and He did rise from that grave. And by doing so Jesus can say, "I have overcome the world."

C. To give life:
What quality of life does He give to those who accept Him? They will experience the life that only He can give, the abundant life, the rich and satisfying life, life to the full, so much so that it overflows. Those who possess such life have a future and a hope. They have purpose. They have a calling. Those who choose Jesus, the giver of life, now live for more. Not only does He give life, but glorious riches and awesome gifts. The life He offers gives us power to overcome the world! The quality of life that He has come to give is without doubt the greatest treasure one could every know and own.

I refuse to believe that after reading this verse in depth,

anyone would rather exist an not live!

Tomorrow I'll share more...
And we will look at two women in the Bible who .... lol, did you really think I would spoil it for you? No, no, no. Come tomorrow for more.



thee verse

 

As promised, today I will share with you the verse I received from this year. During the end of December the Lord spoke clearly to me about this verse:

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

I have to be honest with you, I was a bit desensitized to this verse because it's the life/theme verse of my church. I guess hearing it week in and week out, it became just another verse like many that become a Christian cliche. I even felt a little silly that God would choose this verse for me, thinking that it is well known in my heart. WRONG! Though the verse is well known in my mind, my heart is far from knowing it as God's written and spoken Word for me personally. It makes sense to me now that John 10:10 is for me this year, right now.

At the end of the year I shared with other youth leaders the responsibility of teaching the youth from the big people pulpit, lol. Freedom was the series and I had the honor of doing the first teaching. And with that great honor came total blankness. Freedom in the spiritual sense can mean many things to a large group of people. After much prayer I knew what aspect of Freedom I would teach: Freedom to Live. Little did I know that in preparing for this sermon the Lord would teach me a thing or two through John 10:10. This verse no longer is a "church" verse for me but a life verse (along with many other great ones) and my year verse for 2011.

Throughout the coming week, I will be sharing parts of that teaching as well as what John 10:10 means to me. Jesus has come to give me life, to give you life, life that is abundant and overflowing with His goodness. It is this Jesus that my heart yearns for you to know. How appropriate to begin the year looking at Him, the giver of life. After all, in the words of a very wise man that I have the privilege of knowing: If it doesn't point to Jesus, what's the point? -George Cuevas.

Lyrical Friday - Warrior

Hello Friday!
This has nothing to do with Lyrical Friday, but I wanted to remind you that God is faithful to hear your prayers, and even more amazing that that, He does answer them. Never underestimate the power of prayer.

I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3

Warrior, Dominic Balli


My heart is overflowing with a good theme
I recite my composition concerning the King
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer (Selah)
My God when you came out before your people
Marched through the wilderness the earth shook below
The heavens stopped at your presence dropped rained
Five thousand years you’re still the same
So when the enemy comes at me with tactics of fear and fate
Like the Lord cracked the sky and it gave forth rain
So my enemies will be made a footstool before of the King
One by one they’ll fall as heavenly armies
march and sing

Chorus:
The Lord is warrior he’ll fight with all his might, the enemy’s frightened as triumph cries
A shout of victory, over his enemies and he’ll go forth
The Lord is like a man war, his light will shatter the darkness from night as triumph cries

The Lord is my shelter from my enemies
I will not fear what they can do to me
In the struggle I find strength for the fight
We’ll raise the banner high until we break the night
Mount up with spiritual armor
For the weapons of this warfare are far from carnal
But mighty in God for tearing down strongholds

Chorus:
We marching out brandishing arms upon
The wickedness battle goes on and on
We steady combattin from dawn to dawn my king had victory all along
We focus attention from day unto day from my troubles and unto the one that can save
My brethren cryin out charging the battle line lookin unto the God worthy of praise and hey
Runnin in the race till the day breaks and I'm throwin off weight gotta make haste
Enemy can't stay gotta vacate when the great name been proclaimed thus say the Lord
And I'm gonna fight it with a mighty mighty vigor gonna side it with the undivided
Hot up in the battle in valley of the
shadow of a gallow and I'm runnin with a fella that I’m honored just to follow

keep calm and carry on

Hi Friends!

I was going to share with you my verse for this year BUT... God changed my agenda. lol The video below is from this weekend's service at my home church. Pastor Scott is one of my favorite Bible teachers. He has this amazing gift, he can explain the most complex and complicated parts of scriptures in the most simple and creative ways. And if you watch the video you'll notice his awesome play on words. It's hard not to remember the lessons God desires us to learn when Scott is teaching. I pray that you are both blessed and encouraged.

Stay Calm and Carry On from Calvary Chapel Kendall on Vimeo.

For service times and webcasting click HERE.
For more vimeo from Calvary Chapel Kendall click HERE.

Lyrical Friday - Invisible Love

Hi Friends.
I'm squeezing in a final post for the year.
A few things before I dive into Lyrical Friday:
1. I am very excited to announce a Lily Makeover! Yes, thee blog will be getting a makeover. Tomorrow, January 1st, 2010 A Lily Among Thorns will be dressed in new clothes. YAY!
2. Some time next week, I will be sharing my 2011 verse and some new year commitments.
3. HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR'S EVE. Praise the Lord for all He has done. Read Deuteronomy 4:9

Moving along...

JJ Heller as become a close friend, through her songs. It is only appropriate to end the year with one of her amazing compositions. Invisible Love is one of those songs that ministers to my heart so much. The lyrics are simple yet thought provoking... atleast in my head! As you listen to the lyrics, allow them to speak to you of God's awesome love. My prayer is that when you fall, (and make no mistake about it, we all fall) that you would feel His arms before you reach the ground. I pray that you may know His whispers, though you have never literally heard God's voice. May you live in continual wonder, astonishment, surprise, fascination and be awestruck with God's invisible love for you.

Invisible Love, JJ Heller


If my arms could reach around You
I would never move
If my eyes could see You
I'd have no faith left to prove
The wonder of invisible love

This is how it has to be
With You and me
The wonder of invisible love

When I fall I feel Your arms before I reach the ground
Lord, I know Your whisper, though I've never heard the sound
The wonder of invisible love

This is how it has to be
With You and me
The wonder of invisible...

Some day there will be no time to mind
I will be Your long awaited bride
We will dance away the night

A Year In Verses

Hola.
That's what my mornings look like: Coffee + Bible time!
It's my favorite time of day.

For the past 4-5 years, I have prayed for a verse that will be my theme, my motivation, my encouragement for that year. 2010's verse was (well still is till tomorrow night at Midnight)Matthew 16:26, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" To be quite frank with you, I was a bit offended by God that this would be the verse He chose for me. In my little self-obsessed mind, my walk with the Lord was ok. However, the Lord's agenda for me was a bit different. He had bootcamp in store for me. (you can read yesterday's post for more) This verse proved to be an anchor for me, a verse that I used as a mirror: Am I gaining this world and all it's luxuries at the cost of my soul? Hmmm, I don't want to live that way. I want to live my life for the then and there and not the here and now. I love Matthew 16:26!

 Last year I posted A Year in Verses and will do the same this year. Raquel, what are you talking about? What is a year of verses? Glad you asked. Two years ago, I was challenged by a verse, a couple of verses actually, to make God's word at home in my heart. So I challenged myself to journal a verse per day. From whatever I read that day, to jot it down and date it. This has kept me accountable to being in God's word daily. So here I go, sharing 1 verse from each month out of the 364 verses that I received this year in my quiet time with Jesus.

January 19, 2010
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. Luke 24:29

February 7, 2010
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

March 6, 2010
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

April 7, 2010
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Romans 12:10-10

May 19, 2010
Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you." Isaiah 35:4

June 8, 2010
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

July 16, 2010
The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “ Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." Jeremiah 31:3

August 20, 2010
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever. Psalm 73:26

September 23, 2010
He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. Psalm 62:6

October 16, 2010
The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11

November, 2010
And say to [insert your name], “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” Colossians 4:17

December 11, 2010
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

Be blessed dear friends.
I challenge you, journal 1 verse a day. Share that verse with others. And make it personal, like the November verse I posted. God's word is powerful and intimate. May you be drawn into God's word like never before. May you never be quenched and satisfied apart from every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, found in the Bible. Happy 2011!

and if you're not tired of reading- ck out last year's verses and then dig in to God's word.
Has God given you a verse? Share it with me.

take a seat.

Hi Readers.
I am unworthy of your attention, yet you have accepted my invitation to take a seat. Thank you.

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,

and a two-edged sword in their hand. Psalm 149:6.

Praying that the highest praises of God be upon your heart and a two-edged sword in your hand. Get up. Take the sword of praise and Fight! Yes, fight! Are you losing trust in God's provision? Fight it with praise. Are you gripped by fear? Fight it with praise. Feeling small, insecure, unloved? Fight the feeling with praise. I think you're catching on... Praise is a mighty weapon. Whatever it may be that is keeping you from peace, from joy, from living the abundant life I encourage you to fight it with praise.

Unto a different subject... I felt a nudging from the Lord to relfect with you a little about this year. Let me start by saying that I would like 2010 behind me. This year has taken me on a roller coaster of pain, loss, confusion, loneliness, and mind battles. But God has taken me on a wondrous journey towards forgiveness, healing, redemption and grace.

The greatest gain for me this year is without doubt: accepting God's grace. As strange as that may sound, it's as you read it. This year my eyes were opened to God's amazing grace. I gained a real understanding this precious gift. I learned how far I was from living the abundant life.I had for 12 years accepted God's forgiveness of sin in my life, yet could not forgive myself. I was self condemned and imprisoned for past errors. gripped by both guilt and fear. I had believed the lie that I was of little worth and would amount to nothing. My misunderstanding of grace was far from the living and intimate grace God offers you and me. God is liberating me from much bondage. I have accepted God's grace for me. And though I have not grasped the richness of it, I am being cleansed and clothed by His love, mercy and grace. I am walking in His aisle of grace, and there is no where else that I'd rather be.

I can't say that this year is coming to an end, because everything that happened this year has molded me into the person that now walks into 2011. I am grateful that the Lord has been my tower of strength, my teacher, my healer, my savior, my lover, my friend. And He will continue to be all these and much more forever and a day.

I thank my God for all you. Through one of the most difficult and loneliest times of my life, it was you my readers who kept me company, you cupped my tears and held me accountable... and you may not have even known this. You have been instrumental in my heal journey. May the Lord take delight in you and sing over you as you my beloved friends live as lilies among thorns for His glory, honor and praise. May what you have experienced this year not hold you back from moving into all God has for you, but rather let those experiences be milestones of God's faithfulness. May the Lord be with you. God bless you.

But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. Deuteronomy 4:9

But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.
Romans 5:20

 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. Romans 9:8, 10

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory... Ephesians 3:20-21